The genus Lestes (Odonata: Lestidae) Leach, 1815, in Surinam

15 Pages·1997·1.9 MB·English

by  Belle, J

The genus Lestes (Odonata: Lestidae) Leach, 1815, in Surinam
J. Belle
Belle, J. The genus Lestes (Odonata: Lestidae) Leach, 1815, in Surinam.
Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (11), 31.vii.1997: 89-103, figs 1-33.— ISSN 0024-0672.
Jean Belle. Onder de Beumkes 35, 6883 HC Velp, The Netherlands.
Key words: Lestidae; new taxa; Surinam.
The species of Lestes from Surinam are treated. L. basidens spec. nov. (8 holotype: Distr. Nickerie,
Sipaliwini, near airstrip), L. curvatus spec. nov. (8 holotype: Distr. Suriname, Coropina creek, Repu-
bliek), L. edentatus spec. nov. (8 holotype: Distr. Marowijne, Nassau mountain range) and L. trichonus
spec. nov. (9 holotype: Distr. Nickerie, Sipaliwini, near airstrip) are described and illustrated. The
types are deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden. L. mediorufus Calvert and L.
tenuatus Rambur are illustrated and a lectotype for the latter species is designated. The holotype of L.
sublatus Hagen in Selys is redescribed and illustrated. L. forficula Rambur, known from the surround
ing countries of Surinam, is also illustrated. A key to the Surinam species of Lestes is provided.
Introduction
The cosmopolitan genus Lestes Leach, 1815, is hitherto represented in South Ameri
ca by about twenty named species. One of these, Lestes sublatus Hagen in Selys, 1862,
was described from Surinam. Furthermore, two previously named species Lestes medio
rufus Calvert, 1909, and Lestes tenuatus Rambur, 1842, and four unnamed species were
collected in Surinam during the explorations of the late Dr D.C. Geijskes and the author
in that country. The four unnamed species were first recognized as being new to sci
ence by Dr Geijskes and are described in this paper under the specific names basidens,
curvatus, edentatus and trichonus. The occurrence of Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842, in Suri
nam is highly probable, since this species is known from the surrounding countries
French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela. A key to the seven Surinam species is provided.
Most specimens were borrowed from the National Museum of Natural History at
Leiden. The holotypes of the new taxa are deposited in that museum. Other reference
material came from the Brussels and Berlin museums, and enabled me to select a lec
totype for Lestes tenuatus and to figure the holotype of Lestes sublatus for the first time.
Lestes forficula is also discussed and some specifically important details are elucidated
by figures.
The illustrations are reproductions of original camera lucida drawings (details
completed by free hand) but they are not all on the same scale. The Jena oculars used
are 12.5 and 6.3; the objectives 2.5 and 0.63. The combination is indicated in figure
captions. All dimensions are given in mm. The wing vein term R3 is in the sense of
Fraser (1957).
Keys to the species of Lestes
The colour pattern of the pterothoracic venter (= pectoral colour pattern of Cal
vert, 1909: 93) is of great importance for the identification of the Surinam species of
Lestes. The dark markings of this pattern appear to be identical, or nearly so, in both
sexes of the same species. However, aged specimens often have this colour pattern
90 Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997)
obscured by pruinosity. If a clean-out is possible, the complete pattern will become
discernible. Males of all species are rather easily distinguished by differences in shape
of the superior caudal appendages (cerci).
Caution should be taken in using the key since the males of Lestes sublatus Hagen
in Selys and Lestes trichonus spec, nov., and the female of Lestes basidens spec. nov. are
unknown.
Key to the males
1. Small species: abdomen 26-29.5, hind wing 16-19. Inner side of superior caudal
appendages with a strong spine-like basal and subapical tooth and a row of
minute teeth between them. Pectoral colour pattern shaped as shown in fig. 2 ....
L. mediorufus Calvert.
Larger species: abdomen 30-37, hind wing 20-23. Shape of superior caudal
appendages different 2
2 (1). Caudal appendages pale; apical half of superior caudal appendages regularly
and strongly curving downward (fig. 15). Pectoral colour pattern only consist
ing of a posterior pair of dark spots (fig. 4) L. curvatus spec. nov.
Caudal appendages not pale; apical half of superior caudal appendages not
strongly curving downward 3
3 (2). Inner side of superior caudal appendages without spines of any kind. Pectoral
colour pattern with three pairs of dark oblong spots close to ventro-lateral cari
na (fig. 7) L. edentatus spec. nov.
Inner side of superior caudal appendages with spines 4
4. Inner side of superior caudal appendages with a truncate basal tooth and a sub-
apical row of minute spines (fig. 18); branch of each inferior caudal appendage
reaching backward to a point about one-third the way along superior caudal
appendage L. tenuatus Rambur
Inner side of superior caudal appendages with a strong acute tooth at base fol
lowed by a row of minute spines (fig. 10); branch of each inferior caudal
appendage reaching backward to a point about two-thirds the way along super
ior caudal appendage L. basidens spec. nov.
Key to the females
1. Small species: abdomen 25-28, hind wing 18-19. Pectoral colour pattern shaped
as shown in fig. 2 L. mediorufus Calvert
Larger species: abdomen 29-37; hind wing 21-26 2
2 (1). Abdomen 29, hind wing 23. Antehumeral stripes brassy black and conspicuous
ly large, extending over whole length of mesepisternum and breadthways
extending from middorsal carina to a distance from humeral suture of one-third
its own width. Sides of pterothorax yellow except for a small metepimeral black
spot below. Pectoral colour pattern shaped as shown in fig. 9
L. sublatus Hagen in Selys
Colour pattern of female different; antehumeral stripes narrower and not touch
ing middorsal carina 3
Belle. The genus testes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997) 91
3 (2). Caudal appendages pale, stout, not conical i.e. not regularly tapering from base
to apex (fig. 33). Pectoral colour pattern only consisting of a posterior pair of
dark spots (fig. 4) L. curvatus spec. nov.
Caudal appendages not pale, conical i.e. regularly tapering from base to apex ... 4
4 (3). Caudal appendages slender and about three and a half times as long as it is
wide at base. Pectoral colour pattern with three pairs of dark oblong spots close
to ventro-lateral carina (fig. 7) I. edentatus spec. nov.
Caudal appendages short, thick, conical and twice to two and a half times as
long as it is wide at base 5
5 (4). Venter of pterothorax with long pale hairs. Pectoral colour pattern with well-
developed dark metasternal spots (fig. 8) L. trichonus spec. nov.
Venter of pterothorax glabrous. Pectoral colour pattern without or with weakly
developed dark metasternal spots L. tenuatus Rambur
Treatment of the species
The species are treated in alphabetical order. For each species are given the mate
rial studied and a description, a redescription or descriptive notes.
Lestes basidens spec. nov.
(figs 1,10-11)
Material.— Surinam: District Nickerie, Sipaliwini (near airstrip, small pool in forest), ll.iii.1961, 4 8
(holotype and paratypes), D.C. Geijskes leg.
Male (holotype).— Total length ca. 40; abdomen 30; hind wing 20; costal edge of
stigma in fore wing 1.4.
Head.— Labrum dark brown. Top of head black with a very slight blue lustre and
small fanciful brown markings. Labium pale brown. Rear of head brown, darker
below and slightly pruinosed.
Thorax.— Prothorax brown, brassy black on dorsum and slightly pruinosed. Dor
sum of pterothorax with a pair of metallic bluish-green antehumeral stripes on whole
length of mesepisternum; these stripes widened laterad at upper end, the lower por
tion almost parallel-sided and distant from median carina for about half its own
width. Sides of pterothorax predominantly yellow-brown, the mesepimeron with a
broad metallic green stripe which is suddenly constricted just below mid-height.
Mesinfraepisternum brown along mesepisternum. Pectoral colour pattern shaped as
shown in fig. 1. Pterothorax largely pruinosed except dorsum.
Legs.— Hind femora brown-yellow with lengthwise a dark brown stripe along
inner and anterior sides. Hind tibiae brown-yellow with brown anterior side. First
and second femora and tibiae largely dark brown but inner side of femora and outer
side of tibiae brown-yellow. Tarsi and claws dark brown.
Wings.— Hyaline. Venation dark brown. Stigma brown. Postnodal cross-veins
(Pns) 12-13/10-11 in fore and hind wings, respectively. R3 branching at fourth Pn in
left fore wing, at third Pn in left hind wing and between third and fourth Pns in right
wings.
92 Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997)
Abdomen.— Segments 1-7 with brassy dark brown dorsum, the lower sides of
basal segments brown-yellow. Segments 8-10 dark brown and pruinosed. Segment 10
and caudal appendages dark brown, shaped as described in the key and as shown in
figs 10-11.
Female unknown.
Variation.— The width of the dark antehumeral stripe varies in the paratypes. In
one specimen it is reduced to a rather narrow stripe parallel to the mid-dorsal carina
and as far therefrom as the stripe is wide. In another specimen the stripe widens reg
ularly toward its upper end where it attains the mid-dorsal carina and occupies the
mesepisternum for about four-fifths its local width.
Etymology.— The specific name basidens from "basis" and "dens", in reference of
the strong basal tooth on the inner border of the male superior caudal appendages.
Lestes curvatus spec. nov.
(figs 4,14-15, 26, 33)
Material.— Surinam: District Marowijne, Wia Wia (km 5.8-5.2, swamp in forest), 16.xi.1948, 1 9 (no.
2830); same locality (km 12.6, pit in grass at Mauritie), 26.xi.1948, 2 8 (nos. 3912, 3914), 1 9 (no. 3913);
same locality and date (small marsh), 1 8 (no. 3907). District Suriname: Coropina Creek, Republiek
(swamp Berseba), 23.vi.1957,1 8 (teneral), all specimens paratypes and all D.C. Geijskes leg.; Coropi
na Creek, Republiek, 26.iii.1957, 4 6 (holotype and paratypes), 3 9 (paratypes), 31.iii.1959, 1 9 (allo
type); Para Creek (upper part), 30.i.l960,1 8 (paratype); 13.ii.1960,2 8 ,1 9 (paratypes), all J. Belle leg.
Male (holotype).— Total length ca. 40; abdomen 35; hind wing 22.5; costal edge of
stigma in fore wing 1.3.
Head.— Brownish-yellow but labrum greenish-white and vertex black.
Thorax.— Prothorax yellowish-brown. Dorsum of pterothorax brown with a pair
of large black dorsal spots and two narrow black stripes parallel to median carina,
each stripe confluent with inner side of dorsal spot. Lateral sides of pterothorax yel
lowish-brown but mesepimeron with a black oblong spot about mid-height and a
black spot below, and metepisternum black around spiracle. Pectoral colour pattern
shaped as shown in fig. 4.
Legs.— Yellowish-brown.
Wings.— Hyaline. Venation dark brown. Stigma brown, its surface granular.
Postnodal cross-veins 13-12/12-13 in fore and hind wings, respectively. R3 branching
between fourth and fifth Pns or at fifth Pn.
Abdomen.— Segments 1 to 6 yellowish-brown; segment 7 becoming dark brown
toward apex; segments 8 and 9 dark brown; segment 10 yellow with brown apical
margin. Caudal appendages yellow, shaped as described in the key and as shown in
figs 14-15.
Female (allotype).— Total length ca. 41; abdomen 34.5; hind wing 23.5; costal
edge of stigma in fore wing 1.5.
Similar to male in characters other than those of sex but labrum brown. Terminal
segments of abdomen shaped as described in the key and as shown in figs 26 and 33.
Variation.— The male and female paratypes are very similar to the male holotype
and female allotype, respectively. The species is peculiar in not having the usual
metallic lustre and in having the aged specimens not or almost not pruinosed.
Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997) 93
Etymology.— The specific name curvatus alludes to the strongly curved male
superior caudal appendages.
Lestes edentatus spec. nov.
(figs 7,12-13, 24)
Material.— Surinam: District Marowijne, Nassau mountains range (km 18.7, small pool in forest),
22.iii.1949, 4 8 (paratypes, nos 9440, 9441, 9443; holotype, no. 9444), 1 9 (allotype, no. 9442), D.C.
Geijskes leg. District Brokopondo (formerly belonging to District Suriname): Brownsberg (mountain
top, at midday, in sun shine), 22.iii.1981,1 8 (paratype), T. Keukelaar leg.
Male (holotype).— Total length ca. 45; abdomen 36; hind wing 21.5; costal edge of
stigma in fore wing 1.4.
Head.— Labrum brown. Top of head brassy blackish-brown. Labium pale brown.
Rear of head brown-yellow but cheeks largely blackish-brown and pruinosed.
Thorax.— Prothorax brown-yellow. Dorsum of pterothorax brown with a pair of
metallic green antehumeral stripes on whole length of mesepisternum; these stripes
two-thirds as wide as mesepisternum and not attaining mid-dorsal carina. Mesepime-
ron largely metallic dark green (or brown due to post-mortem changes) but brown-
yellow along humeral suture. Mesinfraepisternum largely brown, pale yellow near
coxae. Metepi sternum, metepimeron and coxae pale yellow but metepisternum dark
brown along femoral suture, and metepimeron with a dark brown spot below. Pecto
ral colour pattern shaped as shown in fig. 7. Pterothorax slightly pruinosed on ventral
side.
Legs.— Pale yellow, the following dark brown: outer side of first femur, outer
side of basal half of second and third femora, anterior side of femora and tibiae. Tarsi
and claws entirely dark brown.
Wings.— Hyaline. Venation dark brown. Stigma brown. Postnodal cross-veins 14-
13/13-13 in fore and hind wings, respectively. R3 branching between fourth and fifth
Pns and between third and fourth Pns in fore and hind wings, respectively.
Abdomen.— Dorsum of segments brassy dark brown with greenish lustre. Lower
sides of segments 1-7 pale brownish-yellow. Side spots on seg ments 8 and 9 and
most of segment 10 yellowish-brown. Caudal appen dages brown and shaped as
shown in figs 12-13.
Female (allotype).— Total length ca. 40; abdomen 32; hind wing 21.5; costal edge
of stigma in fore wing 1.5.
Similar in coloration to male but outer side of third femur pale and that of second
and first femora brownish instead of dark brown. Terminal segments of abdomen
shaped as described in the key and as shown in fig. 24.
Etymology.— The specific name edentatus from "e" and "dentatus", in reference to
the complete lack of teeth on the inner border of the male superior caudal
appendages.
Lestes mediorufus Calvert, 1909
(figs 2,16-17, 23)
Literature.— Calvert, 1909: 97. De Marmels, 1990: 336.
94 Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997)
Type depository.— Male holotype in The Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila
delphia, USA.
Descriptive notes.— The Surinam representatives of this species fit fairly well the
original description of Calvert. The pectoral colour pattern of a Surinam repre senta-
tive is shaped as shown in fig. 2. The dimensions of the Surinam specimens illustrated
in this paper are: Male.— Total length ca. 32; abdomen 26.5; hind wing 16; costal edge
of stigma in fore wing 1.1. Female.— Total length ca. 31; abdomen 25.5; hind wing 18;
costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.2.
Range.— Brazil (with the State of Sao Paulo as type locality), Venezuela and Suri
nam. In Surinam mainly encountered at pools and ponds in the savanna zone.
Lestes sublatus Hagen in Selys, 1862
(figs 9, 28-30)
Literature.— Selys, 1862: 307-308 (pp. 23-24 of reprint).
Type depository.— Female holotype in the Institut fur Systematische Zoologie
und Zoologisches Museum, Berlin.
Notes on the female holotype.— Lestes sublatus has been described on the basis of
a single female originated from Surinam. No new material of this species has been
collected since its description in 1862. In the Selysian collection at Brussels I found in
a box with many species of Lestes (box 9 of cabinet 8) the label "Lestes sublata Hagen"
in Selys' handwriting but there was no specimen placed under that heading.
The female holotype, borrowed from the Berlin Museum, is a pinned specimen in
rather good condition. Attached to the pin are the printed labels "2837", "Typus" and
"Zool. Mus. Berlin", and the written labels "Surinam. Cord." (probably in Hagen's
writing) and "L. sublata Hag. 9 " (probably in Selys' writing). The extreme tip of the
left fore wing and the caudal appendages are broken away. The apical half of the
right fore wing and the abdomen are broken off, the tip of the wing being glued on a
pin label and the abdomen put in a triangular cellophane envelope attached to the
pin. I have added to the pin the written label "Lestes sublatus Hag. in Sel., 1862 HOLO
TYPE 5 Rev. Jean Belle, 1996".
Redescription of the specimen follows below:
Female (holotype).— Total length ca. 37; abdomen (excl. cerci) 29; hind wing 23;
costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.4, in hind wing 1.8.
Head.— Brownish yellow but superior surface of frons, vertex, top of head
(except middle of rear margin) and upper part of cheeks brassy black.
Thorax.— Brownish yellow but superior surface of prothorax brassy black and
pterothorax coloured as described in the identification key. Pectoral colour pattern
shaped as shown in fig. 9.
Wings.— Faintly smoky. Venation brown. Stigma brownish yellow, the one in
hind wings longer than the one in fore wings (figs 29 and 30). Postnodal cross-veins
13:13/12:12 in fore and hind wings, respectively. R3 branching at fourth Pn in left
fore wing, between third and fourth Pns in right fore wing, at third Pn in left hind
wing and between second and third Pns in right hind wing.
Legs.— Femora yellow with longitudinal dark brown stripes at outer sides, the
Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997) 95
stripes becoming wider toward knees. Tibiae yellow but anterior surface very dark
brown. Tarsi and claws almost black.
Abdomen.— Brownish yellow but superior surface of all segments brassy black
except for proximal half of segment 1 and more or less at articulations. Apical seg
ments shaped as shown in fig. 28. Hind dorsal margin of segment 10 semicircularly
excised in middle.
Remarks.— It is unfortunate that the specifically important caudal appendages
are broken away. According to Selys' description these appendages are shorter than
abdominal segment 10, brown, subcylindric, bluntly pointed and denticulate. Lestes
sublatus is also peculiar in having the stigma on the hind wings notably longer than
that on the fore wings.
Range.— Surinam (type locality).
Lestes tenuatus Rambur, 1842
(figs 5-6,18-19, 22)
Literature.— Rambur, 1842: 245 (as Lestes tenuata). Calvert, 1909:102. Paulson, 1982: 250. De Marmels,
1990: 336.
Type depository.— Male lectotype in the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de
Belgique, Brussels.
Lectotype designation of Lestes tenuata Rambur.— This species was described on
the basis of males only. It is known that the Rambur types were deposited in the
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle at Paris but Dr Jean Legrand of that museum,
in a letter to me dated 23 September 1996, kindly informed me that he could not find
them. However, in the Selysian collection at Brussels I found two specimens of the
original series. One of the specimens is a male in rather good condition but the apical
halves of the right wings, the left hind leg, the right middle leg and both fore legs are
broken away. This male is here designated as the lectotype of Lestes tenuata Rambur,
1842. It has the written pin labels "5.", "martinique", "Lestes tenuata" (probably in
Rambur's writing) and "L. tenuata R $" (in Selys' writing), and the printed pin label
"80.". To this specimen I have added the written yellow pin label "Lectotype. Det.
Jean Belle, 1996".
The paralectotype is a male in very poor condition lacking the head, the abdomi
nal segments 4 to 10, the right hind leg, both fore legs and the apical half of the right
fore wing while the thorax has completely been eaten out by tropical scavangers.
Attached to the pin of this specimen are a written label "Lest, tenuata", a written label
which reads like "Testhamel" and a printed label "(Martinique)".
Variation.— The Surinam males of Lestes tenuatus have caudal appendages which
are in perfect conformity with those of the lectotype but their pectoral colour pattern
differs slightly by the lack of a pair of weakly developed metasternal spots (figs 5-6).
The males from Surinam have roughly the same dimensions as the lectotype. The
dimensions of the Surinam specimens illustrated in this paper: Male.— Total length
ca. 44; abdomen 37; hind wing 22.5; costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.6. Female.—
Total length ca. 44; abdomen 37; hind wing 26; costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.7.
Range.— USA, West Indies (with the island of Martinique as type locality), Cen-
96 Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997)
tral America, the northern countries of South America and Ecuador. In Surinam
mainly occurring in the swampy areas of the coastal region.
Lestes trichonus spec. nov.
(figs 8, 27)
Material.— District Nikerie: Sipaliwini (near airstrip), 15.ii.1961,1 9 (holotype), D.C. Geijskes leg.
Female (holotype).— Total length ca. 42; abdomen 33.5; hind wing 21.5; costal
edge of stigma in fore wing 1.6.
Head.— Labrum glossy brown. Top of head yellowish-brown. Labium pale
brown. Rear of head pale yellow.
Thorax.— Prothorax brown-yellow. Dorsum of pterothorax brown with a pair of
narrow dark brown antehumeral stripes parallel to the mid-dorsal carina; these
stripes attain anteriorly the mesothoracic margin but dorsally they do not attain the
antealar sinus. Mesepimeron with a dark brown stripe, narrow dorsally, becoming
wider below where it attains the humeral suture; this stripe continued on mesinfrae-
pisternum. Metathorax largely pale green. Venter of pterothorax with long pale hairs.
Pectoral colour pattern shaped as shown in fig. 8.
Legs.— Brownish-yellow but anterior side of first and second femora brown.
Wings.— Hyaline. Venation and stigma dark brown. Postnodal cross-veins 13-
14/13-12 in fore and hind wings, respectively. R3 branching between fourth and fifth
Pns in right fore wing, between third and fourth Pns in left wings, and between sec
ond and third Pns but close to third Pn in right hind wing.
Abdomen.— Segments 1-7 brown on dorsum, the lower sides of basal segments
pale yellow. Segments 8-10 and anal appendages brown. Terminal segments shaped
as described in the key and as shown in fig. 27.
Remarks.— It is with some hesitation that I have named this species on the basis
of one single female only. But the presence of long pale hairs on the venter of the pte
rothorax is very distinctive. The corresponding male may at once be recognizable by
this character, and furthermore in having a more or less similar pectoral colour pat
tern and in having legs with the same colour design.
Etymology.— The specific name trichonus is a Latin transliteration with ending -us
of the Greek name trichon, in reference to the hairs on the pterothoraic venter.
Remarks on Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842
(figs 3, 20-21,25, 31-31)
Lestes forficula Rambur is known from the surrounding countries French Guiana
(Selys, 1862; Machet, 1989 as Lestes forficulus), Brazil (Selys, 1862) and Venezuela (Rac-
enis, 1958; De Marmels, 1990). A male of this species has also been collected by me
during a trip through Brazil (State of Bahia, Santo Amoro, 31.vii.1992,1 cT). It is high
ly probable that the species occurs in Surinam.
Lestes forficula is somewhat similar to the newly described species Lestes basidens,
but the former is characterized by having the inner side of the male superior caudal
appendages with a median dilatation and in having the pectoral colour pattern only
Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997) 97
with a pair of metepimeral spots. In this respect the pectoral colour pattern of Lestes
forficula resembles that of Lestes bipupillatus Calvert, 1909, which seems to be its near
est ally. Some specimens of Lestes forficula have a weakly developed mid-ventral pos
terior metasternal spot (fig. 3).
I add illustrations of some specifically important details of the male and female of
Lestes forficula. The dimensions of the specimens studied by me are: Male.— Total
length ca. 37; abdomen 29-31; hind wing 19-20; costal edge of stigma in fore wing 1.2-
1.4. Female — Total length ca. 37; abdomen 29-30; hind wing 21-22; costal edge of
stigma in fore wing 1.3-1.5.
Acknowledgments
I wish to express my warmest thanks to Dr Patrick Grootaert of the Institut Royal
des Sciences Naturalles de Belgique at Brussels for giving me access to the Selysian
collection to study Rambur's type material of Lestes tenuatus, to Dr Kurt K. Gunther of
the Institut fur Systematische Zoologie und Zoologisches Museum at Berlin for the
important loan of the holotype of Lestes sublatus, to Dr Jean Legrand of the Museum
National d'Histoire Naturelle at Paris for the valuable information with regard to
Rambur's type specimens, and to Mr Jan van Tol of the National Museum of Natural
History at Leiden who most generously complied with my request to loan me the
specimens of the new and other species of Lestes for description and inquiry.
References
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De Marmels, J., 1990. An updated checklist of the Odonata of Venezuela.— Odonatologica 19: 333-
345.
Fraser, F.C., 1957. A reclassification of the order Odonata.— Roy. zool. Soc. N.S.W., Sydney. 133 pp., 1
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Leach, W.E., 1815. Entomology in Brewster, D., The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia (Edinburgh) 9(1): 57-
172.
Machet, P., 1989. Contribution a l'etude des odonates de Guyane Francaise. I. Zygoptera.— Opusc.
zool. flumin. 40:1-16.
Paulson, D.R., 1982. Odonata. In: S.H. Hurlbert & A. Villalobos- Figueroa, (eds), Aquatic Biota of Mex
ico, Central America and the West Indies: 249-277.— San Diego State University.
Racenis, J., 1958. Los Odonatos neotropicales en la coleccion de la Facultad de Agronomia de la Uni-
versidad Central de Venezuela.— Acta biol. venez. 2:179-226.
Rambur, P., 1842. Histoire naturelle des insectes. Nevropteres. Roret, Paris, xvii + 534 pp, 12 pis.
Selys Longchamps, E. de, 1862. Synopsis des agrionines. Seconde legion: Lestes.— Bull. Acad. r. Belg.
(2) 13:288-338 (pp. 3-54 of reprint).
Recieved: 25.xi.1996
Accepted: 25.iii.1997
Edited: J. van Tol & J.C. den Hartog
98 Belle. The genus Lestes Leach, 1815, in Surinam. Zool. Med. Leiden 71 (1997)
Fig. 1, Lestes basidens spec, nov.; 2, Lestes mediorufus Calvert; 3, Lestes forficula Rambur; 4, Lestes curvatus
spec, nov.; 5, Lestes tenuatus Rambur; 6, Lestes tenuatus Rambur, lectotype; 7, Lestes edentatus spec,
nov.; 8, Lestes trichonus spec, nov.; 9, Lestes sublatus Hagen in Selys. 1-9, pectoral colour pattern [12.5 X
0.63].